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The Disney Blog: disney vacation The Disney Blog Informing Disney Fans the World Over with the latest news and updates from all Disney companies, divisions, and related stories. Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruises, Disney Animation, Pixar, ESPN, and more are covered in as much detail as I can muster. Our Sponsors Blogads Disney DVDs Walt Disney: Walt Disney Treasures - The Adventures of Spin & Marty - The Mickey Mouse Club Walt Disney: Walt Disney Treasures - Elfego Baca and The Swamp Fox - Legendary Heroes Walt Disney Treasures - The Chronological Donald, Volume Two (1942-1946) Walt Disney : Walt Disney Treasures - Disney Rarities - Celebrated Shorts, 1920s - 1960s Disney Books Robert Tieman: The Disney Keepsakes Sequel to the Disney Treasures book. A must have for any Disney fan. (****) Pixar: The Art of Pixar: 100 Collectible Postcards Full of wonderful postcard art. Great for any Disney or Pixar fan or anyone who collects postcards. Which would be me! 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Chronicles of Narnia UnAbridged AudioCD -- Like Netflix for Audio Books -- 15 Day Free Trial Unlimited DVD Rentals! -- 30 day free trial The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, 2006 -- Save 32% at Amazon.com Chicken Little Soundtrack -- Save 42% at Amazon.com Check out Delta's last-minute fares for great travel deals. -- Book your Disney Trip Now and Save Big Best Online Rates at ParkPlaza .com Add me to your TypePad People list About Powered by TypePad December 28, 2005 Attendance Numbers re-examined Over on the Discussion Boards at LaughingPlace.com member Darkbeer has broken down the top 25 ranked US theme parks in a more useful manner, visits per operating day. This gives a slightly different top 5 and pushes California Adventure all the way down to 14th. Let's look at the AB/ERA 2005 numbers from a Average DailyAttendance viewpoint. (I am going to the parks operating schedule tofigure out the days open, and then dividing it into the yearattendance, then rounding). 1. Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 44,110 2. Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. 39,725 3. Paramount Canada's Wonderland in Maple, Ontario, 28,350 (127 days) 4. Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 27,125 5. Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 23,560 (continued below the cut) Interesting to note the huge drop off between the two big boys and everybody else. I'd also like to see the AB/ERA judged against total estimatedcapacity for each park. ie, which parks are consistantly meeting theirgoals. These are numbers I'm sure industry insiders have. [ disney , themepark , universal , themeparks , theme+park , orlando , anaheim , disneyland , disneyworld , wdw , disney+world , magic+kingdom ] Continue reading "Attendance Numbers re-examined" » Posted by John Frost in Florida Attractions , Themepark Industry , disney vacation , disney world , disneyland | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) Not impressed with Disney Xmas Parade Coverage? Were you unimpressed with the recent airing of the Christmas Parades at Disney World and Disneyland. Well so was Nicholas at Cinemazement . Tell me, how is it possible that with millions of dollars worth of television equipment, “professional” television producers, cameramen, sound people, editors, they were totally unable to accurately capture the feel of the Parade of dreams at Disneyland? They would have been better off showing some guy’s homevideo of the parade because what I saw on TV was not the parade. It was entirely artificial. That's about exactly how I felt too. I'm sorry if you sat through the whole thing. I could only stand about 5 minutes of it. [ disney , parade , disneyland , disney+world , wdw , disneyworld , abc , television , kelly+ripa , regis+philbin ] Posted by John Frost in disney vacation , disney world , disneyland | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) December 26, 2005 Themepark Attendance Figures with Disney on top Amusement Business has released their estimated theme park attendance figures for 2005 and once again the Walt Disney Company has cleaned house. Disney owns the top five spots with Orlando's Magic Kingdom claiming top spot with 16.1 million visitors, an increase of 6.5%. Anaheim's Disneyland placed second with 14.5 million, an increase of 8.5% (bolstered by the 50th anniversary celebrations). The third through fifth parks were Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, and Animal Kingdom, all posting growth in the 5 percent range. Disneyland's neighbor, California Adventure, grew a disappointing 3.6% considering the attendance growth at the gate just 100 yards away. People still aren't coming to see this park built on the cheap even after the Tower of Terror was added. Monster's Inc looks promising, but it's not enough to raise the attendance that much. For that they'll have to add two or three more E-ticket thrill rides and completely rebrand the park away from its ties to California. Plans for the latter are underway, plans for the former... who knows. See the rest of the 2005 top 25 list here . (also see the 2004 list ) [ disney , themepark , universal , busch , theme+park , themeparks , orlando , anaheim , attendance , list , top25 ] Posted by John Frost in Florida Attractions , Themepark Industry , corporate disney , disney vacation , disney world , disneyland | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) December 23, 2005 Disney Themeparks, what's next? Disney issued a press release today outlining the upcoming changes and attractions at Disney's world wide theme parks. Now, normally when you release some news on a Friday you're hoping to bury it over the weekend. But this being a holiday weekend they may be hoping to pick up on some slow news time for extended coverage. Who knows. No big news was announced. But here's the roundup if you're interested: At Florida's Walt Disney World Resort, a massive recreation of the Himalayas is the setting for a thrilling adventure called Expedition Everest, scheduled to open in April 2006 at Disney's Animal Kingdom. In their quest to bring authenticity to this new attraction, Walt Disney Imagineers partnered with Discovery Networks and Conservation International in a scientific expedition to the Himalayas for a first-hand exploration of the legend of the mysterious Yeti. "Our passion for bringing great stories to life has taken Walt Disney Parks and Resorts to amazing places over the last 50 years," said Rasulo. "Over the next 50 years, we will continue to scale new heights in our ongoing quest to create great experiences for our Guests." In California, the Disneyland Resort is bringing to life a popular creative franchise with Monsters Inc: Mike & Sully to the Rescue, which will open at Disney's California Adventure on January 23, 2006. And in 2007, new technology will take Disney storytelling to the next level as the "subs" return to Disneyland in Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. In this all-new adventure, Guests will travel to the undersea world of "Finding Nemo," where they'll see and interact with characters that appear exactly as they do in the Disney/Pixar Animated Studios film. At Hong Kong Disneyland, Autopia, a classic Disney favorite, will let Guests of all ages drive along futuristic highways through surreal, out-of-this world landscapes. It will be the first Autopia with electric powered vehicles -- and is scheduled to open in the summer of 2006. Disneyland Resort Paris also plans several major new attractions to open over the next three years. Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, based on the highly popular attractions at other Disney parks around the world, will open at the Disneyland Park in 2006. In 2007, Walt Disney Studios Park will add a new land called Toon Studios, which will immerse Guests in the magical world of Disney's animated movies. And in 2008, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror will come to Disney Studios -- plunging Guests into a thrilling experience based on the iconic attraction at other Disney parks. In the fall of 2006, Tokyo DisneySea also will open its own Tower of Terror. Disney Cruise Line will offer Guests new experiences as well in 2006. In May, a new seven-night itinerary will be available that includes two stops at Disney's private-island getaway, Castaway Cay. The itinerary will also include a stop at Cozumel and a new port of call -- Costa Maya. Additionally, in September the Disney Wonder will embark on two extended itineraries -- one 10-night and one 11-night cruise to Southern Caribbean ports, including Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, St. Lucia, Antigua and Castaway Cay. [ disney , disney+vacation , themepark , themeparks , theme+park , disneyland , disneyworld , wdw , dlr , disney+world , tokyo+disneyland , paris+disneyland , disney+cruise ] Posted by John Frost in Hong Kong Disneyland , Themepark Industry , disney vacation , disney world , disneyland , paris disneyland , tokyo disneyland | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) November 30, 2005 G-force study on Orlando Attractions A local TV station in Orlando has done a study on exactly how many G-forces one experiences on some of the more popular and extreme roller coasters and other attractions in the Central Florida Attraction Zone. The report found that 'The Hulk' Roller Coaster at Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park had not only highest G-force at 4.5Gs, but also had some of the most extreme changes in forces going from near 0Gs to 4.5Gs at one point. Disney's attractions came in at: Space Mountain: 3.5 Gs Big Thunder Mountain: 2.5 Gs Rock n Roller Coaster: 4.4 Gs Mission: Space: 2.1 Gs (but for 15 seconds in length) Test Track: 2 Gs [ disney , attractions , disneyworld , wdw , disney+world , ioa , universal , roller+coaster , rollercoaster , extreme , space+mountain , missionspace , mission+space , g-force , themepark , theme+park ] Posted by John Frost in Florida Attractions , Themepark Industry , disney vacation , disney world | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) November 08, 2005 Disney World acquires new sponsor We've been hearing about this deal for some time now. A new major corporation would step in and sponsor Spaceship Earth and a few other attractions around the resort kicking off a small wave of renovations across Epcot as it gets ready for its 25th Anniversary. The announcement finally came today and the new sponsor is Siemens AG . The 12-year agreement will have the German based company sponsoring not only Spaceship Earth, but also the Reflections of Earth fireworks shot at Epcot and the Osborne Family Festival of Lights at the Disney MGM Studios. The sponsorship will also extend to Disneyland's two parades, the Disney's Electrical Parade at California Adventure and The Walt Disney Parade of Dreams at the Disneyland gate. I'm so happy to see this partnership and hope that not only does it signal the start of better corporate sponsorship relationships between Disney parks and companies across the globe, but that it helps kick off some much needed refurbishment around the Walt Disney World Resort. Additionally a long needed update to the Disney's Electrical Parade, including a few new floats and some new technologies, would be greatly appreciated by the parades fans and visiting guests. [ Tags: disney , disneyland , disneyworld , wdw , disney+world , california+adventure , dca , dlr , siemens , bob+iger , epcot , sponsorship , imagineering , vacation , travel ] Posted by John Frost in corporate disney , disney vacation , disney world , disneyland | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) November 04, 2005 Halloween Photos: around the world Halloween is over, which means that at the Disney Themeparks it's time to rush onto the next holiday... Christmas. Oh, a few moments thought will be given to Veterans Day, if you're lucky you might be able to find a juicy Thanksgiving feast at one of the mouse's hotels. But generally speaking if Halloween wasn't there to stop them, Christmas would start in July for Disney (and most of consumer America). However, before The Disney Blog is ready to move on here is a quick look at how Disney themeparks around the world do Halloween. Did you know that since 1999 the Disney Company has been a primary influencer at restoring the Halloween tradition in France with its Disneyland Paris Pumpkin Celebration. Japan never celebrated Halloween, having a much different view of ghosts and ancestors than most western nations, but Disney has introduced a two month Halloween Festival there with most of the western trimmings and it's been a huge success, practically a national obsession, if you believe the Disney PR. Via BoingBoing we have this flickr set of photos from the Tokyo Disneyland celebration. They certainly know how to party there and their costumes are wonderful. Back in the Americas Disney World has been running their successful Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) for years now. The park closes down for a separate admission party after the regular hours are over. Many nights sell out. This year Robb Alvey took his Theme Park Review crew down for one of the MNSSHP nights and a lot of fun was had by all. I took my wife and son trick or treating at MNSSHP on Halloween itself where I got a lot of photos of the parade, which was added new this year. Cindy Stephens visited Disneyland's attempt to re-enter the Halloween market this year (previously left to Knott's Scary Farm and Universal Studio's Scare Nights) with a kid oriented event called Mickey's Halloween Treat. The catch, the event was at the mostly lackluster California Adventure second gate. Still with admission numbers capped low, the event was a huge success selling out nearly every night. Cindy's write up is a great and has tons of photos and a copy of the event guide. [ disney , disneyland , disneyworld , disney+world , halloween , flickr , holiday , event , mickey ] Posted by John Frost in Holiday , disney vacation , disney world , disneyland , paris disneyland , tokyo disneyland | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) October 27, 2005 Secrets of the Haunted Mansion If you're one of those people who refuses to watch the 'masked magician reveals X' shows, then stop reading this post now. For we are about to reveal the amazing secrets behind Disney's many Haunted Mansions . This page also includes a collection of sounds and songs from the Haunted Mansion in MP3 . You might want to borrow a few for your own personal halloween soundtrack. [ disney , disneyland , disneyworld , wdw , disney+world , hauntedmansion , haunted+mansion , imagineering , imagineer , backyard+imagineering ] Posted by John Frost in Disney Fandom , Disneyism , Imagineering , disney vacation , disney world , disneyland , paris disneyland , tokyo disneyland | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) World of Narnia to appear at Disney World The December 9th release date for Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is rapidly approaching. Now Disney World has announced that they will be debuting a Narnia exhibit on the 9th featuring sets and costumes from the film. You'll get a peak behind the magic as you enter Soundstage 4 at the Disney MGM Studios themepark. Sounds like fun. But no idea how long it will last. So make plans to attend soon. Posted by John Frost in Film , Narnia , Themepark Industry , disney film , disney vacation , disney world | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) October 25, 2005 Bye-Bye Hurricane Wilma... end of season? MKT who brought us wonderful pictures of the preparation and the damage wrought by last year's hurricanes has returned with a look at the Magic Kingdom after Hurricane Wilma . It looks like everything, including the little characters added to the castle this year, has survived just fine. You can also see what a beautiful day it was after the storm had passed. With 30+ days still left in this record setting Hurricane Season you have to wonder what Mother Nature has left to throw our way. Hopefully she'll cut us a break.. [tags: disney , disneyworld , disney+world , magic+kingdom , wdw , hurricane , wilma , hurricane+wilma , orlando ] Posted by John Frost in Florida Attractions , disney vacation , disney world | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) October 24, 2005 Morning Update, Hurricane Wilma It's almost 8:30 AM and we're still here (here being about 2 miles from SeaWorld and 5 miles from Disney World ). We've dodged one tornado generating cloud system already and another is on the way. But so far the winds and rain haven't been too bad (I saw much worse in some of the thunderstorms earlier this year). That's different if you're east or south of here, however. Hurricane Wilma is speeding across southern Florida and behind it will be cold, but clear, weather. I wouldn't be surprised to see Disney World's Magic Kingdom and Epcot open later today. Universal and SeaWorld will probably be the same. Disney's Animal Kingdom park takes longer to open as they have to check on all the animals and their environments. The Orlando International Airport has temporarily suspended service this morning. But that's mostly due to unsafe wind shear and heavy rain. It should reopen later today as well. Things might be much worse in Naples, the Everglades and southward. Keep those families in your thoughts today. [tags: disney , disneyworld , disney+world , seaworld , hurricane , wilma , hurricane+wilma , storm , tornado , themeparks , orlando , universal studios ] Posted by John Frost in Florida Attractions , disney vacation , disney world | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) October 20, 2005 Wilma uninvited guest at Funai Classic Forget Tiger Woods and Michelle Wie, the biggest name in golf this week is Wilma. Officials at the Disney World based Funai Classic are bracing for a hit from the hurricane, but hoping for the best as this year's tournament gets underway today. Disney officials figure they would need 24 to 36 hours of lead time todisassemble concession tents and corporate skyboxes. Perhaps as earlyas 5 p.m. today crews could begin taking apart tents and hospitalityareas, which are designed to withstand winds of 50 mph. But that doesn't mean the event will be postponed. Just that some of the luxury normally associated with professional golf tour events will be deminished. Worse things could happen. If you're attending Disney World this weekend give yourself extra time when driving to and from the Magic Kingdom or any of the nearby resorts. And keep your eyes on those greens, you never know who you might see. [ Technorati Tags: funai , funai+classic , golf , pgatour , pga , tiger+woods , tigerwoods , disney , disneyworld , wdw , disney+world , walt+disney+world , hurricane , storm , hurricane+wilma , wilma ] Posted by John Frost in Sports , disney television , disney vacation , disney world | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) October 18, 2005 Hurricane Wilma and Walt Disney World As of tonight's 11PM EST forecast from the National Hurricane Center , Orlando is still in the "cone of uncertainty" for Hurricane Wilma. That means visitors expecting to attend one of Walt Disney World's theme parks or other attractions in the central and southern Florida regions should be prepared to meet with some delays or closures this Saturday and Sunday going into Monday. Everybody is old hands at hurricane preparation at the theme parks having gone through this routine four times last year. Most hotels in the Orlando area survived with nothing more that a little wind and rain damage and most attractions opened within 24 hours or so of the storms passing. So there really is no reason to be concerned or postpone your stay. That said, keep your eyes on the weather channel and the NHC website and you might want to bring some extra rain gear as even if Wilma passes south of Orlando, we'll still likely see tropical storm strength wind gusts and rains. [tags: disneyworld , disney+world , hurricane , hurricane+wilma , wilma , wdw , orlando , seaworld , universal+studios , hotel , vacation , nhc ] Posted by John Frost in Celebration, FL , Current Affairs , Florida Attractions , World Events , disney vacation , disney world | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBack (0) August 07, 2005 Good answer to Will you change travel plans question I've had a few great responses to my desire to know how Disney's recent spate of deaths and injuries has affected your travel plans, if at all. I'm happy to say that everybody appears to be fairly sane, is a little more cautious. I wanted to post this response I got through another channel as I thought it was quite good: This topic has been on my mind for a while now. My sisters and I are regular visitors to Disneyland as we live in the area. We were on the California Screamin' rollercoaster about ten minutes before it had its little accident last week. While by all accounts the accident was minor, it's yet another in a series of accidents that seems to represent Disney's shift in focus from safety to cost-effectiveness. While the number of actual deaths and injuries has been small - onekilled by a metal cleat ripped off of a ship, another killed after atrain derailed on Big Thunder Mountain - these instances can all beattributed to negligence on Disney's part. The former president ofDisneyland, Paul Pressler, was once quoted as saying, "We have to ridethese rides to failure to save money." This desire to do things on thecheap led to inadequate employee training, the scaling-back ofpreventative maintenance, and undue stress being placed on certainrides (Disney's California Adventure relies heavily on flagship rideslike California Screamin' and Soarin' Over California, to the pointwhere these rides cannot go down for lengthy rehabs because guestsatisfaction and attendance would plummet). All of this has led to aseries of accidents that are directly Disney's fault - where in thepast, most incidents at Disneyland could be attributed to eithernatural causes or dangerous guest behavior. On the positive side, Disneyland has a new president who seems lessfinancially cutthroat, and, unlike Walt Disney World, accidents atDisneyland are subject to investigation by the state and rides cannotreopen until the state approves it. But last week's accident adds to mypersistent feeling of mistrust surrounding safety at Disneyland. Mysisters and I haven't been back on Big Thunder Mountain since thefatality over a year ago (the ride continued to have problems after itreopened), and there are certain rides we won't go on because we aregenuinely afraid of mechanical error (Mulholland Madness, a "WildMouse" ride, is scary enough just being a Wild Mouse ride - never mindthat it's an off-the-shelf ride intended for seasonal use, being runfor long hours year-round!). But this hasn't dissuaded us from visiting the park, nor has itprompted us to avoid thrill rides altogether. It's just made us awarethat the reputation for safety Disneyland enjoyed in the past is nolonger applicable to the present day. The park is not being run thesame way it was 50, 40, 30 years ago. (Posted with permission from brookedel ) [ttags: disney , disneyland , disneyworld , disney+world , disney+vacation , travel , accident , injury , death , californiaadventure , dca , wdw , dlr ] Posted by John Frost in disney vacation , disney world , disneyland | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) August 06, 2005 Will the recent accidents, injuries, and deaths keep you away? Disney theme parks are receiving lots of attention this summer, but not all of its due to the Happiest Celebration on Earth. A 3-month rash of injuries, accidents, and deaths has focused media attention on some of Disney's flaws. The Orlando Sentinel doesn't think it will affect attendance at the parks. How about you? Will you change your travel plans or alter your visit to an amusement, water, or theme park after hearing about these problems? What do you think accounts for the apparent uptick in incidents? The comments are open! [ttags: disney , vacation , disneyworld , disney+world , disneyland , themepark , theme+park , injury , accident , death ] Posted by John Frost in Disney Fandom , Disneyism , Florida Attractions , Themepark Industry , Travel , corporate disney , disney vacation , disney world , disneyland | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack (1) August 04, 2005 Another child dies at Walt Disney World This is not a post I wanted to be writing so soon. Local Orlando News is reporting the death today of a 12-year old girl at the Walt Disney World Resort's Typhoon Lagoon Water park. The girl was found at 6PM on the edge of the large Wave pool by a lifeguard. She soon passed out and her pulse and breathing stopped. CPR was attempted and she later was pronounced dead at the nearby Celebration Hospital. Today was a hot and humid day with highs in the upper 90s and humidity pushing the 'feels like' temps to aboe 100. I have to wonder if this has something to do with heat exhaustion. On hot days at the theme parks there are frequent calls to first aid for guests who just didn't drink enough water or powerade. The same holds true at Water Parks where you may not realize you aren't getting enough to drink. I'm not claiming this is what happened today, but drinking lots of water is good advice for any visitor to Orlando. [ttags: disney , disneyworld , disney+world , wdw , typhoon+lagoon , water+park , death , accident ] Posted by John Frost in Disneyism , Florida Attractions , disney vacation , disney world | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) August 02, 2005 Wet Disney Dreams in Shanghai? Hot on the heals of the Korean Disney park 'announcement' comes a bit of speculative news from Shanghai. The article states "the sources said the park will be four times bigger than Hong Kong's Disneyland," which sounds like someone's wet dreams to me. Disney Corporate claims to have very valid business reasons for building these mini-parks like California Adventure, Disney Studios Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland. They may not be home runs, but their solid base hits for the company and with a little tweaking and some strong follow up batting (An e-ticket or two over the next 5 years) those runs will be driven in. I think it will be a long time before we see Disney swing for the fences with a mega themepark on the scale of Tokyo or Orlando's Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Even the original park didn't become a 50 attraction mega-park in its first few years. It grew, contracted, and grew again until its present form was reached. Posted by John Frost in Disneyism , Hong Kong Disneyland , Imagineering , Themepark Industry , disney vacation , disneyland , tokyo disneyland | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) July 28, 2005 Another near death at Walt Disney World I don't know if the Mouse Resort is having a string of bad luck or if the media is just finally reporting on these incidences, probably the latter, but here's another near death to report -- this time a drowned worker . A 16-year old diver doing shoreline restoration at the Dolphin Resort became entangled in ropes and had to be rescued. Posted by John Frost in disney vacation , disney world | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) Disneyland Do's and Don'ts' Do: Take your kids to DisneyLand, regardless of their age. I never imagined getting so much enjoyment over their excitement. Don't: Havekids outnumber the adults. One adult per child. You'll save yourselffrom the, "hey where's small child number 6" moment of terror. Also,most rides require an adult with the child lower than your belt buckle(an no, the hewge belt buckle trick doesn't work - nor does spiking thehair of your child so it stands straight up). Leaving one small childat the exit doesn't work so well either. Do: Go see the fireworks. Surround sound, laser lights, killer explosions and a scantily clad fairy on a wire - need I say more? Don't: Expectto do much else the hours before and after the show. 50,000 people onmain street (100,000 SF) with one exit and two bathrooms. 'nuff said. Do: get caught up in the "Fantasy" and "Pretend" that this theme park is supposed to be. You'll enjoy a lot more things. Don't: Askthe characters how long they need to train to do all this because youget the standard answer, "How long did it take you to figure out you'rean idiot??".....ok they said it in a nice cartoon voice. Plenty of other useful Do's and Don'ts for your next vacation to Disneyland from Lee at ' Oh No, The Blog '. Posted by John Frost in disney vacation , disneyland | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) Partner Blogs Home4Sale Orlando Bound Blog Resume Upgrade - New! The Home Blog RSS Feeds Subscribe to this blog's feed Recent Posts Attendance Numbers re-examined Not impressed with Disney Xmas Parade Coverage? Pixar and Disney: can a working partnership be reached? Toy Story 3-D? Can the Disney Co. Really be Saved? Themepark Attendance Figures with Disney on top Iger, Jobs, Close to Announcement? Audio Tour of MoMA's Pixar Exhibit Happy 80th Birthday Pooh! Anastasia: Family Fun DVD? Trip Reports Disney trip full report Not every trip report is 100% cheery. This is one of those. Mike’s Annual Disneyland Trip Report We reported on Mike's trip last year too. Your Donald sucks. The one at Hong Kong Disneyland is more charismatic. Sylvia journeys to Disneyland. Can't tell if she had a good time or not. Unique Disneyland 50th Anniversary Trip Report A wonderful scrapbook revisiting the events surrounding the 50th Anniversary of Disneyland Ammy and Rick visit Disneyland on its 50th Birthday Also see following post for review of Blue Bayou and its new seating policy. Silent Joes Playground - Disney Wrap Up Theme Park Adventure of Disney Dancer Greetings from Disneyworld: Omnipotent? Lynn's Road to Disney World Three Kid Circus Recent Comments loana on Attendance Numbers re-examined rosemary on The Great Hidden Mickey Quest rosemary on The Great Hidden Mickey Quest Kenneth Barnes on The Whistle Blows for Monday Night Football Stacey on Disney ponders new style of hotel Doug135711 on Themepark Attendance Figures with Disney on top Lynnad on Studio Gibli: Howl's Moving Caslte Natasha Kershaw on Edna Mode is Edith Head Tyler C. on Narnia News from the old gray lady Tyler C. on Narnia News from the old gray lady Search This Site Web thedisneyblog.typepad.com December 2005 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Categories Animation Business anti-disney Art Books Broadway Celebration, FL CIC corporate disney Cosplay Current Affairs disneyana disney animation Disney Channel disney comics Disney Concert Hall disney consumer products disney cruise disney dining Disney Fandom disney film Disney Games Disneyism disneyland Disney Mobile Disney Musicals Disney Online Disney Publishing disney television disney vacation disney world DVD EM:HE espn Film Florida Attractions Food and Drink Games Holiday Hong Kong Disneyland Humor Imagineering Indiana Jones LaughingPlace.com Lost Mickey Mouse miramax Miyazaki Muppets Music Narnia NFFC paris disneyland pixar Playhouse Disney Podcast Pooh & Characters Religion Round Up Sports Star Wars Television The Disney Stores Themepark Industry Tim Burton tokyo disneyland Travel Uncle Walt Weblogs Web/Tech World Events Archives December 26, 2005 - January 1, 2006 December 19, 2005 - December 25, 2005 December 12, 2005 - December 18, 2005 December 5, 2005 - December 11, 2005 November 28, 2005 - December 4, 2005 November 21, 2005 - November 27, 2005 November 14, 2005 - November 20, 2005 November 7, 2005 - November 13, 2005 October 31, 2005 - November 6, 2005 October 24, 2005 - October 30, 2005 Disney Links The Disney Blog for Kids Disney Shopping at The LaughingPlace Store The Latest Disney News from LaughingPlace.com Disney Online - The Official Home Page of The Walt Disney Company! 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Cheap Annual Travel and Holiday Insurance from 1Stop Travel Insurance     Buy now best budget prices travel insurance Online certificate Or call 0870 112 6122 Call Agents available today 8:00am to 9:00pm Home ¦ About ¦ Claim Information ¦ Contact ¦ Policy Documents ¦ Quote Me ¦ Support ¦ Travel Extras Prices Cut More Cover! We have cut our prices and improved the cover giving our customers even better value for money. Financial Services Authority 1Stop Travel Insurance meeting the standard. Click for more information Cover & Benefits Please Click HERE Form E111 Are you ready for the changes to form E111. Click HERE for more information Join our Affiliate Programme Click HERE for more Information Fantastic Prices Travel Insurance - Holiday or whatever! Single Trip Annual Kids go free with adults trip travel product - 10,000,000 Medical Expenses benefit as standard Great value annual travel insurance Discounts for couples and families - winter sport cover available Ski Backpackers Easy to buy cover for a wide range of winter sports activities including Off Piste, snowboarding Kids go free with adults Budget cover and prices for Gap Year Travellers taking trips greater than 30 days Includes policy break to return home For UK & Republic of Ireland Residents Customer Feedback Buy with confidence You tell us! Read what other say about 1Stop and let us know what you think! We accept the following cards in payment Quick easy online buying Emergency Medical Assistance Medical emergency whilst overseas call +44 (0) 870 112 8203 Need to make a Claim How to claim. Click HERE for more information Know Before You Go 1Stop, 1Click, 1Check for updated UK Government Travel Information US Citizens Click HERE Cheap Travel and Holiday Insurance Information Annual multi trip | annual travel | backpacker | cheap travel | family travel | gap year | holiday insurance | international | long stay single trip | ski insurance | student | insurance cover | online travel insurance | worldwide travel 1Stop Travel Insurance is a division of Drakefield Insurance Services Limited Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority >© 2004 Drakefield Insurance Services Limited > Disclaimer > Privacy > Sitemap

Vacation Rentals World :

California - Vacation Rentals .com -- #1 Vacation Rentals Directory Beach Houses & Vacation Homes Contact Owners Direct... Home List Your Rental Help Home Owner Login About Us Disclaimer More Vacation Rentals World : United States : California : Los Angeles Area Aliso (1) Anaheim (10) Avalon (1) Beverly Hills (5) Capistrano Beach (2) Dana Point (21) Hermosa Beach (7) Hollywood (5) Huntington Beach (19) Laguna Beach (22) Laguna Niguel (1) Long Beach (9) Los Angeles (17) Malibu (14) Manhattan Beach (8) Marina Del Rey (4) Newport Beach (36) Pacific Palisades (1) Pine Mountain Club (2) Playa Del Rey (2) San Clemente (12) Santa Monica (15) Sunset Beach (5) Surfside (1) Topanga (1) Venice (4) Venice Beach (5) West Hollywood (1) Westwood (1) San Diego Area Cardiff by the Sea (5) Carlsbad (29) Chula Vista (1) Coronado (12) Del Mar (14) Encinitas (19) Fallbrook (3) Julian (4) La Jolla (51) Lakeside (1) Mission Bay (5) Mission Beach (71) Ocean Beach (5) Oceanside (36) Pacific Beach (8) San Diego (61) San Pasqual (1) Solana Beach (15) Temecula (5) San Bernardino Area Big Bear Lake (58) Idyllwild (8) Lake Arrowhead (15) Moonridge (2) Running Springs (2) Wrightwood (1) Deserts Blythe (2) Cathedral City (8) Desert Hot Springs (5) Indian Wells (23) Indio (16) Joshua Tree (4) La Quinta (126) Needles (1) Palm Desert (124) Palm Springs (141) Rancho Mirage (30) North Coast Arcata (3) Clear Lake (2) Crescent City (10) Eureka (3) Fort Bragg (2) Gualala (2) Lakeport (1) Mendocino (18) Sea Ranch (2) Shelter Cove (2) Smith River (1) Timber Cove (3) Trinidad (2) Willits (2) Wine Country Bodega Bay (7) Calistoga (3) Healdsburg (10) Jenner (2) Kenwood (2) Napa (19) Petaluma (2) Russian River (21) Sebastopol (1) Sonoma (16) St Helena (5) Yountville (1) San Francisco Bay Area Berkeley (3) California Delta (7) Danville (1) Dillon Beach (3) Half Moon Bay (3) Larkspur (1) Mill Valley (2) Pescadero (2) Point Reyes Station (1) San Francisco (32) San Rafael (1) Sausalito (4) Stinson Beach (3) Tiburon (3) Central Coast Aptos (8) Big Sur (2) Cambria (2) Carmel (10) Carmel Valley (2) Carmel-By-The-Sea (3) Cayucos (3) Grover Beach (1) Lake Nacimiento (3) Los Osos (1) Monterey Bay (3) Morro Bay (3) Nipomo (1) Ojai (1) Oxnard (5) Pacific Grove (1) Paso Robles (3) Pebble Beach (1) Pismo Beach (17) San Luis Obispo (5) Santa Barbara (66) Santa Cruz (23) Santa Ynez (2) Ventura (5) Shasta Cascade Graeagle (3) Hyampom (4) Lake Almanor (1) Mount Shasta (3) Redding (1) Shasta Lake (13) Weaverville (1) Willow Creek (2) High Sierra/Gold Country Arnold (4) Auburn (1) Cold Springs (1) Grass Valley (5) Kernville (2) Mammoth Lakes (24) Markleeville (1) Mi-Wuk Village (1) Murphys (2) Nevada City (2) Pinecrest (9) Pioneer (1) Pollock Pines (1) Sacramento (2) Sequoia (7) Shaver Lake (19) Sutter Creek (1) Twain Harte (8) Wofford Heights (1) Yosemite (10) Lake Tahoe Area Alpine Meadows (2) Brockway (4) Carnelian Bay (4) Dollar Point (2) Donner Lake (7) Homewood (4) Kings Beach (8) Northstar (6) Olympic Valley (1) South Lake Tahoe (90) Squaw Valley (5) Tahoe City (23) Tahoe Donner (45) Tahoe Park (4) Tahoe Pines (2) Tahoe Vista (10) Tahoma (5) Truckee (14) Other Regions California Local Information and Area Highlights Travel to California / California Vacation Rentals From the mountains, to the desert, to the Pacific coast, California is a majestic West Coast state. So much culture, history, and fun define California. Youll need a vacation rental to maximize your trip satisfaction. Everything California There is an incredible amount of diversity in California, from cultures, to climate, to geography, from high-tech to historical. An unimaginable number of things to do and experience in the Golden State exists. So come and enjoy a vacation with everything about California! California Key Areas Northern and Central California includes the North Coast, Shasta Cascade, San Francisco and Bay Areas, Central Coast, Gold Country, High Sierra, and Central Valley regions. The North Coast region contains striking redwood tree forests, like the Redwood National and Stake Parks in Crescent City. State park and forest areas make for prime camping, hiking, and fishing, such as the desolate Six Rivers National Forest in Orleans. You can view lava tubes or waterski at Shasta Lake in the Shasta Cascade region. Ripe vineyards in the Napa Valley area and California wine tours are famous; there is even a one-day event that tours both Muir Woods to see redwoods and wine country. The San Francisco/Bay Area is a wonderful blend of quiet coastal areas like Angel Island State Park and sophisticated city traversed by cable car as an option. San Jose, true to its high-technology nature, offers The Tech Museum of Innovation, with science and engineering exhibits. The Central Valley is steeped in agriculture and has multiple food factory tours available; history is also a theme represented by the San Joaquin County Historical Museum, with a Native American Yokuts display. The 1874 California state capitol building in Sacramento is part of Gold Country, where one can explore Highway 49 just like the miners. Experience the mountain region of the High Sierra, with the incredible views from Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the continental United States, and the Lake Tahoe year-round resort area. Memorable seascapes and resort areas are found on the Central Coast, as is the specialty shopping and dining on Cannery Row in Monterey. Southern California includes the Desert, Los Angeles County, Orange County, Inland Empire, and San Diego County regions. Discover the sand dunes and cliffs eroded through time in the Desert region, set against shiny resort cities and areas like Palm Springs. Take a movie or television tour in the Los Angeles area, or visit Chinatown. Maybe youll decide to stroll or drive down the 20-mile stretch of Sunset Boulevard. Scuba divers and snorkelers probe the underwater shipwrecks of the Catalina Island/Casino Point Underwater Park. Touch more culture of the Far East through the Japanese American Cultural Center. Listen and see live classical, Jazz, and rock artists perform under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl. Orange County, home of Disneyland, is a highly sought-after vacation destination. Crystal Cove State Park has a great combination of beach, surf, and hiking and horseback opportunities, while tubers ride the white-water rapids at Knotts Berry Farm. The Inland Empire region is where you will find the California Citrus State Historic Park, detailing the background of the Southern California citrus industry. Big Bear Lake is a prominent resort area with skiing, snowboarding, golf, and many other activities at play. Peek at the Route 66 Territory Gift Shop in LaVerne, or peer at the centuries of glass at the Historical Glass Museum in Redlands. The San Diego area presents a very temperate climate region with strong Hispanic roots. In North San Diego County lies the largest mission in California, Mission San Luis Rey, built in 1798, where you can tour the church and grounds of the Franciscan Friars of California. Eight casinos around the San Diego region invite gamers, while an excellent variety of restaurant cuisines invite diners. Dont forget about the world-renowned San Diego Zoo! Sites and tours to see Battery Point Lighthouse, Crescent City Grace Hudson Museum and Sun House, Ukiah McCloud River Falls McArthur-Burney Falls State Park Alcatraz Island Paramount Theatre, Oakland Golden Gate Bridge Mission San Juan Bautista Hearst Castle, San Simeon Herman Goelitz Candy Company, Fairfield The Pizza Farm, Madera Empire Mine State Historic Park, Grass Valley The Getty Center Little Grand Canyon, Lake Forest Badwater, Death Valley National Park Orange Empire Railway Museum Del Mar Racetrack VacationRentals.com is quickly becoming one of the largest and most useful specialized travel site on the internet for finding vacation rental homes. With its intelligent search engine, VacationRentals.com is the easiest place for travelers to find and rent unique vacation rentals including cabins, beach house, villas, bed and breakfasts and other vacation lodging. VacationRentals.com is the most efficient means for owners to promote their rental properties. ©1997-2005 VacationRentals.com LLC All Rights Reserved.

RUSSIA TRAVEL GUIDE |

Travel to Russia - *Escorted St. Petersburg tours* HOME | TOUR GUIDES | ESCORTED TOURS | SHORE EXCURSIONS | VISAS | CLIENTS | RUSSIA TRAVEL GUIDE | HOTELS The State Hermitage Museum St. Petersburg City of St. Petersburg Destination guide for independent and cruise travel to Russia City of Moscow Cultural capital of Russia Michael's Palace St. Nicholas Cathedral Stroganoff Palace Palace Square Hermitage Theater If you are going to travel to Russia or need first-hand information about Moscow and St. Petersburg - this site is for you! Your Personal Travel Concierge Planning a trip to Russia can be strenuous and time-consuming. As many experts agree, engaging a company with local expertise can save time, money and offer a high level of flexibility. With over 12 years of experience serving foreign guests who choose Moscow and St. Petersburg as their destination, we are ready to alleviate your burden of making travel arrangements half a world away. We are a St. Petersburg based tour operator offering top-rated service at a reasonable price. Our art-savvy tour guides will introduce you to the world-famous art exhibits and bustling nightlife of Russia's both capitals. Our friendly drivers will meet you at the airport and get you to your hotel at any time of day or night. Our free travel concierge will help you plan every detail of your trip making sure your visit to Russia is enjoyable and fun. Russia Travel Guide To help you prepare for your trip even further, we have created a comprehensive Travel Guide where you can get the latest news and practical advice on travel in Russia. Our Guide features information on Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Greater Area, and covers such topics as transportation, money, arrivals guide, museums, and many others. It is an indispensable companion both for first-time and seasoned travelers. For more information visit Russia Travel Guide , St. Petersburg City Guide , Moscow City Guide . Private Escorted Tours Our tours are designed for those seeking to maximize their time in Russia. We are delighted to offer individual and group tour programs of any duration tailored to your unique interests and tastes. Whether you are coming on a business trip or as a tourist, we have a variety of tour options to accommodate even the most demanding time schedule. During the tour you will be accompanied by one of our licensed guides who will ensure that you visit the venues of your own choice at your preferred pace with all of your questions or concerns being addressed right away. For more information visit Escorted Russian Tours . Cruise Shore Excursions We offer individual and group shore excursions in Moscow and St. Petersburg for both sea and river cruisers. Regardless of whether you will stay for only a few hours or for 2 weeks, we will tailor your tour program according to your individual needs. This high level of flexibility will be especially appealing for those travelers who wish to avoid all the inconvenience of ship-organized group tours and prefer to spend less while experiencing more. Read what our clients say and get in touch with us before you book the cruise tour package. For more information visit Baltic Shore Excursions , St. Petersburg Shore Excursions , Moscow Shore Excursions . Russia Travel Services Russian Visas : Free tourist visa invitation letters for customers booking our tours. Russian Hotels : Online hotel reservation system for Moscow and St. Petersburg hotels. Folk Show and Ballet Tickets : Get front of the line tickets for performances in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Official capital of Russia Red Square The Dashkov House Ivan the Great Tower Annunciation Cathedral Kremlin Cathedrals 2005 Optima , B. Konyushennaya St., 9 suite 9. St. Petersburg 191186 Russia. Tel/fax: +1 253 5507816 E-mail SITE MAP | TERMS | FAQ's | GLOBAL RESOURCES

Italy Travel

Italy Travel Tips Book Online or call (800) 682-3333 Europe Asia Americas Caribbean Mediterranean Pacific Cruises Home Hotels Find a Vacation Specials Contact Us Italy & Sicily Spain & Portugal Britain & Ireland France Belgium & Holland Central Europe Scandinavia Greece River Cruises China & Japan Southeast Asia Thailand India South America Brazil Peru Costa Rica Bahamas Caribbean & Mexico Bahamas Cancun Riviera Maya Punta Cana Jamaica Greece & Turkey Israel Egypt Morocco Australia & New Zealand Tahiti China & Japan Southeast Asia Sea Cruises River Cruises Italy & Switzerland Travel Tips Climate / Clothing Language Code of Conduct Currency Holidays Travel Insurance Car Regulations Luggage Local Emergency/Phone Health Precautions Passports and Visas Driving Electricity Shopping Tipping Venice Transfers Departure Tax Papal Audiences Climate /Clothing Italy : Spring and Fall: 55 - 75F; Summer: 70 - 85F; Winter: 40 - 55F. Bring comfortable shoes, a sweater, clothes you can layer and an all-weather coat. On the cruises, informal dress is the general rule but there may be some occasions were formal dress is required. Some religious sites may require modest dress to enter (no shorts or sleeveless tops). Italy Average Temperatures: www.gate1travel.com/italy-travel/weather/italy-weather.htm . Switzerland : The Alps cause many climatic variations throughout Switzerland. In the higher Alpine regions temperatures tend to be low, while the lower land of the northern area has higher temperatures and warm summers. Switzerland Average Temperatures: www.gate1travel.com/italy-travel/weather/switzerland-weather.htm . Language Italy : Italian is the local language. Limited English is generally spoken as well. Switzerland : German, French, Italian, and Raeto-Romance are the official languages, but English is widely spoken. Passports and Visas Italy : Passport required. Visa not required for tourist or business stays up to 90 days. Switzerland : Passport required. Visa not required for tourism/study stay of less than 90 days. For more information, please see www.gate1travel.com/visas.htm . Currency Italy : Euro Switzerland : The Swiss Franc Tipping Italy : This is a matter of personal discretion. Tips are appreciated and expected for good service in restaurants and other places. Although restaurant bills often include a service charge, this amount is not typically for the waiters/staff. A typical tip is approximately 10%. Switzerland : A service charge is included in all hotel, restaurant, cafe, bar, taxi and hairdressing services by law; further gratuities are not usually required. For specific guidelines, please refer to www.gate1travel.com/tipping.htm Electricity Italy & Switzerland : The voltage used is 220 volts. *Note: The U.S. uses 120 volts and you can purchase a converter and transformer at most hardware stores for your 120V appliances. Shopping Italy : Shops are generally open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., with some variations in Northern Italy, where the lunch break is shorter and shops close earlier. Prices are reasonable and the quality of goods is very high. Department stores such as La Rinascente, Coin, Upim, and Standa are found in many Italian cities and towns. Things to buy: Clothes for men & women (dresses, shoes, gloves, silk ties, shirts); lacework, jewelry, leather goods (handbags, cases, boxes, luggage), ceramics, gold and silver items, alabaster; woodwork, straw, embroidery, glass and crystal ware. It is advisable to carry merchandise purchased with you in order to avoid any inconvenience. All major credit cards are honored in Italy. A proof of purchase (receipt) must be kept. Switzerland : Special purchases include embroidery and linen, Bernese woodcarving, chocolate, cheese, Swiss army knives and luxury handmade clocks and watches. Shopping hours usually run Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:30 -6:30 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:30-4 p.m. Most shops are closed on Monday mornings. Health Precautions Italy & Switzerland : No inoculations are necessary when arriving in Italy or Switzerland from the U.S. but you should consult with your health care provider before traveling. To prevent "Montezuma's Revenge," avoid the tap water, including raw fruits and vegetables washed in tap water. Your stomach may still become upset due to the change in diet. Bring anti-diarrhea medicine just in case.*For the latest overseas travel health information, call the Center for Disease Control's traveler's hotline at 404-332-4559. Or visit their web site at www.cdc.gov Conservation/Code of Conduct Italy : The social structure is heavily influenced by the Roman Catholic church and, generally speaking, family ties are stronger than in most other countries in Western Europe. Normal social courtesies should be observed. Dress is casual in most places, though beachwear should be confined to the beach. Conservative clothes are expected when visiting religious buildings and smaller, traditional communities. Formal wear is usually indicated on invitations. Smoking is prohibited in some public buildings, transport and cinemas. Visitors are warned to take precautions against theft, particularly in the major cities. Switzerland : Avoid red roses; never give chrysanthemums or white asters as they are considered funeral flowers. Informal wear is widely acceptable. First-class restaurants, hotel dining rooms and important social occasions may warrant jackets and ties. Black tie is usually specified when required. It is customary to give unwrapped flowers to the hostess when invited for a meal. Luggage *Gate 1 tour packages allow one piece of luggage per person, plus carry-on bag. Additional baggage will be subject to handling charges of up to $100 per piece. As Gate 1 will not be responsible for loss or damage to luggage and personal belongings, you MUST report any loss or damage immediately at the time of the incident and obtain a written report from the local authority for submission to your insurance provider. If you luggage is lost or damaged by the airlines, a baggage claim form MUST be filed with the carrier before leaving the airport. See www.gate1travel.com/destinations/luggage.htm for Important Baggage Information for U.S. Travelers. Departure Tax Italy & Switzerland : There are currently no departure taxes in Italy or Switzerland, please see www.gate1travel.com/Destinations/departure_tax.htm for more information. Travel Insurance We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance as additional security in the case of cancellation or interruption of travel plans, lost or damaged luggage, travel delays, illness, or accident. Keep all boarding passes, ticket copies and receipts for expenses paid during your trip if it later becomes necessary to file a claim. Local Emergency Phone # Italy : ambulance/medical: 118 fire, disasters: 115 police & general emergency: 112 Switzerland : general emergency: 112 Holidays Italy : January 1 New Year's Day January 6 Epiphany Mar 28 Easter Monday April 25 Liberation Day May 1 Labor Day June 2 Anniversary of the Republic August 15 Assumption of the Virgin November 1 All Saints Day November 7 World War 1 Victory Anniversary Day December 8 Immaculate Conception December 25 Christmas Day December 26 St Stephens Day *Note : In addition, local feast days are held in honor of town patron saints, generally without closure of shops and offices. These include: Turin/Genoa/Florence: Jun 24 (St John the Baptist) Milan: Dec 7 (St Ambrose) Siena: Jul 2 and Aug 16, Palio horserace Venice: Apr 25 (St Mark) Bologna: Oct 4 (St Petronius) Naples: Sep 19 (St Gennaro) Bari: Dec 6 (St Nicholas) Palermo: Jul 15 (St Rosalia) Rome: Jun 29 (St Peter) Trieste: Nov 3. Switzerland : Public Holidays: January 1 New Year's Day January 2 Berchtolds Day Mar 25* Good Friday Mar 28* Easter Monday May 5* Ascension May 15* Whit Monday Aug 1 National Day Nov 1 All Saints Day Nov 7 World War 1 Victory Anniversary Day Dec 8 Immaculate Conception Dec 25 Christmas Day Dec 26 St Stephens Day *Note : (a) *These holidays may not be observed in certain cantons. (b) There are additional regional holidays which are observed in certain cantons only. Driving Italy : Traffic drives on the right. There are more than 185,500 miles of roads in Italy, including over 3700 miles of motorway (autostrada) which link all parts of the country. Tolls are charged at varying distances and scales, except for the SalernoReggio Calabria, PalermoCatania and PalermoMazara Del Vallo stretches which are toll-free. Secondary roads are also excellent and require no tolls. Road signs are international. Many petrol stations are closed 12 -3 p.m. Visitors are advised to check locally about exact opening times. Switzerland : Traffic drives on the right. Road quality is generally good. Many mountain roads are winding and narrow, and often closed in heavy winter conditions; otherwise chains and snow tires may be necessary. Rail is often more efficient than driving. Car Regulations Italy : Driving licenses and other traffic documents valid in other countries are recognized in Italy. Distances are indicated in kilometer ( 1 km = 0.621 miles). An international insurance certificate is required for citizens from non-EC countries.The wearing of seat belts in front and rear seats is obligatory. An appropriate harness system is obligatory for children from 2 to 12 years of age. Gasoline : Almost all the service stations in the country are equipped with pumps for lead-free (95 octane) and diesel fuel. The fuel distribution network for gas-propelled vehicles is reasonably developed (ask for information at the Automobile Club d'Italia offices). Service stations are open from 7 am to 12:30 pm and from 3 pm to 7:30 pm. Service is guaranteed 24 hours a day on the motorways. Automatic pumps, which accept 10,000 and 50,000 lire banknotes, function in the evenings and at night. Carrying gasoline in gas cans is prohibited. Traffic Tips : On highways (autostrade) no U-turns are permitted and stopping is permitted only in emergency parking areas or parking lanes. The Italian Highway Code follows the Geneva Convention and Italy uses international road signs. Driving is on the right, passing on the left. Violators of the highway code are fined; serious violations may also be punished by imprisonment. In cities and towns, the speed limit is 50 km/hr. Papal Audiences, Vatican City General audiences with His Holiness are usually held once a week (Wednesdays at 11 a.m.) in Vatican City. They may be held inside the Basilica itself or in the hall of the Papal Audiences (Aula Paolo VI, Seating 7000), and in summer in Saint Peter's Square or in the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo. Catholics are requested to have a letter of introduction from their parish priest. For this audience women should dress modestly, with arms and head covered. Dark or subdued colors are requested. Men are asked to wear a tie and jacket. Return to the Italy brochure More TravelInformation Email This Page to a Friend © 2005 Gate 1 Travel Home | About Us | Travel Agent | Free Brochure | Help | Site Map | (800) 682-3333 Read our privacy policy . Contact Us . 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